'Relax, Gov't won't stop funding universities,' Education CS Machogu now says

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu now says that the government will continue funding public universities and colleges, as has been the norm. 

Machogu's sentiments come just two days after he declared that the State is on the verge of withdrawing financial support to the varsities. He made the statement at Nyeri County's Dedan Kimathi University on November 5, 2022.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Education Minister reneged on his initial statement noting that his ministry will continue to support the institutions through capitation.

"I want to make a clarification, nobody ever said that university fund is going to be done away with. I think it is better we get the entire story straight. What I said at Dedan Kimathi is that the government is supporting universities and will continue doing so through capitation and even infrastructural funds," said Machogu. 

"The government does support universities each and every year and that is clearly captured in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto and the education charter." 

The CS urged public institutions of higher learning to embrace research, innovation, and technology to generate additional income, noting that he plans to have such funds increased from 0.8 percent to 2 percent. 

"Relax, the government will continue funding universities but if there are other ways we can be able to generate income for our universities why should we not do so not?" he said.

"Universities are supposed to indulge in research and innovation and for sure there are quite a number of them doing so and they are generating a lot of revenue and what we are saying is that all universities should pursue other ways of generating income."